China National Intellectual Property Administration ("CNIPA") recently formulated and issued the Trademark Examination and Adjudication Standards (Draft for Comment) (the "Draft for Comment") to solicit comments from the general public by July 12, 2021.

The Draft for Comment mainly includes revisions in the following two aspects: the first is to add new standards on trademark formality examination and trademark affairs examination; the second is to revise and improve the substantive standards of trademark examination and adjudication. The first aspect includes the "part on formality examination of trademark applications, clarifying the general requirements for formality examination and refining the work standards on formality examination of trademark registration, opposition, review, and cancellation," and other four elements; and the second aspect includes six elements, including the "addition of the examination and adjudication standards concerning Article 4 of the Trademark Law, clarifying the applicable requirements, factors to be considered and applicable circumstances of malicious trademark registration applications that are not intended for use".

(Source: China National Intellectual Property Administration)